Corn-sheller



(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I. H. PAGKER. GORE SHELLBR. No. 248,497. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

N/ k T E w w :1 1/- Invemor:

(No Model.)

Fly. 0.

3 VSheetsSheet 2.

H. PAOKER.

001m SHELLER.

Patented Oct. 18,1881.

Inventor:

(No Model.)

3 SheetsSheet 3.

H. PAGKER.

CORN SHELLER.

Patented. Oct. 18,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY PAOKER, OF ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS.

CORN-SHELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,497, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed July 31, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY PAGKER, a'

citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Falls, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gorn-Shellers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to that class of corn-shellers having two or more feed-holes.

The object of my invention is to render the feed of such corn-sheller more uniform, and also to provide against the wear and casual breakage of the parts.

Suchinvention consists, essentially, of, first, an improved sprocket or cup link in the feedchain; second, a provision in the bottom of the feed-box to prevent wear of the links of the feed-chain; third, an improved device for tightening and holding taut the feed-chain; fourth, an improved sprocket-wheel; and,fifth, an improved picker-shaft.

As my improvements relate to the feeding devices, I do not deem it necessary to exhibit specifically in the drawings the other portions of the sheller further than to indicate the rel ation of the feeder to said sheller.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a frontview of that part ofthe sheller embodying my invention. In the feed-box A the chain of one (li-. vision is removed to show the bottom of the box. Fig. 2 is a detached View of the sprocketwheel G and picker-shaft H. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the adjustable pulley-frame F at the lower end of the feed-box. Fig. 4 is an exhibition of the end of the picker'shaft and the mode of its attachment and adjustment.

Fig. 5 includes an oblique side view and a front view of the cup or sprocket link D of the feedchain 0 Fig. 6, a longitudinal vertical section of the machine through one of the feedingchains and pickers.

A is a feed-box, attached in any suitable manner to the frame B, which latter contains the main shelling devices, driven in the usual 'way. The box A is subdivided longitudinally into two or more compartments, d, each of which is traversed lengthwise by the revolving continuous feed-chain 0, each link of which is provided at one end with the clip a, engaging the opposite end of the next preceding link. Every seventh link of the chain 0, I constitute of the cup-link D, which has on its outer or side limbs the projecting spurs b I), having their upper side perpendicular to the link and their lower side outwardly converging. By this conformation of the spurs bl), I am enabled to give the same the greatest possible strength in the line of pressure, and at the same time present upward a narrow cutting-edge, which will readily force itself through any ears of corn that may casually lodge at the upper end of the feed-box. As the chain 0 carries the corn to the shelling devices and runs on an unyielding sprocket-wheel, it is obvious that the spurs b, which engage the ears, must be strong enough to cut their way through lodged ears, or be broken off thereby.

The spurs heretofore used, having a broad upper surface and standing unsupported,were

insufficient to either cut their way through 1 opposing ears of corn or to resist the pressure thereof. I still further strengthen the spurs b 11 against lateral yielding or spreading from small cars of corn being crowded between them by the connecting-back c, which latter, also, together with the spurs 1), forms a cup for carrying up any shelled corn which may be in the box. I do not limit myself to any special number or frequency of such cup-links D.

On the bottom and along each side of the compartments d, I place the metallic strips 6 e, at suitable distance apart to form a rabbet that will receive the clutch c of the link D and allow only the sides of such link to have a bearing upon the strips 0. The clutches a, being between the strips 6, escape any wear to weaken them. The lower part of the clip a traversing the space between the strips 6, the latter act as guides to hold the chain in line, whereas with the broad metallic plate heretofore in use under the chain the wear was entirely upon the back or lower surface of the clip, andsoon wore it through or weakened it so as to cause it to break.

E E are pulleys, each of which carries the lower end of the continuous feed-chain 0. Each of the pulleys E is seated in an independent frame, F. The frame F has its forward end inserted loosely into a conforming apartment, f, and its rear end provided with a projecting rod, g, threaded to receive the nut h, by means of which each frame E can be separately adjusted to any desired degree of tightness of the chain 0. The devices heretofore in use for this purpose have required a common adjustment for two or more chains, and inasmuch as the wear and stretch of the different chains was unequal, a joint adjustment was inefficient.

The general idea now prevailing in the large corn-shellers is to force the feed. Ears of corn are not uniform in shape or size, and the machinery which feeds them must be both strong and rigid. Y

Formerly belts were used on the feed-carrier; but any choking of the ears would cause the belt to slip and thus suspend the action of the carrier. Then the sprocket-wheel as a drivin g device, engaging an open-linked chain, was adopted. Then it became necessary to prevent the shelled corn which is among the ears from getting under the chain, as corn under the chain would raise it off the sprockets of the drivewheel, or so near the top of the sprockets as to break them 011'. Such grains of corn could be kept from getting under the chains only by running the latter so taut that but an occasional grain would get under the chain, and that by the pressure and strength of the chain would be ground topowder andrenderedharmless. It is practically impossible to make the different chains of precisely the same length in the first instance. They are generally cast of malleable iron, and different links contract in a different degree in cooling. Again, the wear of the several links varies, being contingent upon the density or hardness of the material, which is not uniform. In the belts any degree of tightness could be attained by cutting and resewing the belt; but no alteration can be made in these chain-carriers less than alink. It is evident therefore that adjustment was essential. This could not be accomplished by introducing a third bearing, as is done in some machines, for the reason that such bearing could not be placed under the upper half of the chain without changing its line, and if placed over the under half of the chain there was danger of cars of corn being drawn between said bearing and the chain and breaking the latter. These feed-chains 0 run over driving-pulleys at the upper end of the feedbox A, all of which pulleys are rigidly affixed to one common drivin g-axle. These feedch ains 0 run on the same plane with the same velocity, and are, in fact, mere subdivisions of a wide carrying-apron, each form of subdivision being adapted to secure greater uniformity in the feed, and my device, as claimed in claim 3, is a successful mode of separately adjusting each of such subdivisions.

G G are sprocket-wheels,havin g a spool-like conformation on their carrying-surfaces, consisting of the curved ends p, raised to about the height of the spurs bon the link D. Around the wheels G, on the inner side of the curved ends 9, are located the series of strippersj. These latter are set parallel with the axis of the wheel G, and haveatbininneredge slightly concaved. When the sheller is in operation the sprocket-wheel G engages the chain 0 and rotates it in the direction of the shelling devices. The ears of corn are thus drawn up and forward by the spur or cup links D, and delivered into the sheller.

If in passing forward and over the sprocketwheel G there should be any crowding or binding from the size or number of ears, the strippersj will shell off that portion which comes in contact with them, and thus relieve the strain on the chain 0 and all other parts of the feeding devices.

H is a picker-shaft, provided on its outer surface with the pickers k, and located directly over and parallel with the wheels G. The shaft H is located so low that any overriding ears are struck by the upper half of such shaft and knocked back into the feed-box A. The pickershaft H also partially shells any crowding cars which may tend to wedge in between it and the wheel G, until they are sufficiently reduced in circumference to pass through without bindin g or any unnecessary friction, the strippers j at the same time performing a like otiice on the under side of such crowding ears.

As the ears of corn vary in size in different lots, and also in the same lot, the picker-shaft H is seated adjustabl y as follows: Such shaft is journaled at each end in the box I. From the latter an arm,m, extends to the rear, which is pivotally attached at its rear end to the side of the sheller. A post, n, is set in the upper part of the box I, and around the latter is coiled the wire spring 0, having its lower end resting on the box I, and its upper end abutting against the lower side of the upper plate of the cornsheller frame. By this arrangement the pickershaft H is allowed to adjust itself vertically, and thus open and close the space between it and the sprocket-wheel G, as the different sizes of the ears of corn may necessitate. The shellerframe, where the shaft H passes through it, is slotted vertically to permit the above-described adjustment of the shaft.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a corn-sheller feeder, the chain 0, provided at intervals with the cup-link D, the latter having the spurs b b, constructed with athin upper edge and greater Width in the line of resistance of and interconnected by the back 0, substantially as shown, and for the purpose mentioned.

2. The feed-box A, provided with the strips 0 e, in combination with the chain 0, having the cup link or links D, said strips being adapted for furnishing a carrying or supporting surface for said chain, while limiting the wear to the sides of the links, substantially as herein shown and. described.

3. In a corn-sheller, the combination of the feed-box A, subdivided into longitudinal compartments d, endless feed-chains O 0, running lengthwise through said compartments, driving-wheels arranged at the upper end of said box, around which said chains pass, rollers E E, arranged in separate frames at the opposite end of said box, around which said chains pass, and exterior adjusting mechanism connected to said frames, whereby either one of said chains is adapted to be adjusted independently of the other chain, substantially in the manner as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

4. In a corn-sheller, the sprocket-wheel G, provided with the ends 19 and strippers j, constructed as described, and for the purpose 20 shown.

5. In a corn-sheller, the herein-described arrangement 0f the picker-shaft H, having the HARVEY PAOKER.

Witnesses GEO. S. TRACY, CYRUS KEHR. 

